Why Some Tithepayers Do Not Prosper

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God promises to bless those who keep His law of tithing. But what if you tithe faithfully and still face financial disaster? Why are you not becoming more prosperous each year, if the law of tithing really works?

There is another important consideration every Christian needs to remember.

More than tithing required

Don’t misunderstand. Tithing pays big dividends. There is an invisible law in tithing that insures monetary increase when one un-begrudgingly gives God His 10th.

What many people don’t seem to realize is that they are under obligation to obey other laws equally as important to success as the law of tithing. You must obey all God’s laws if you expect to continue receiving the marvelous blessings which God’s gigantic storehouse provides. If you are not receiving God’s blessings, then you are not doing all God requires.

The apostle Paul revealed why some do not prosper. He said: “We commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies” (II Thess. 3:10-11). Paul warned Timothy, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (I Tim. 5:8).

Your Bible plainly states that a person who will not work and provide for his own home is worse than an infidel. Even though such a person is satisfied to barely eke out an existence, tithing alone will not make him prosperous.

True Christians should be willing to work harder than anyone else on the job. They must be willing to make money for their employer. Any person who is lazy cannot help but reap shame, poverty and defeat after defeat.

What Is A Christian’s Business?

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When Christ was 12 years old He asked His parents after they had been searching for Him for three days, ” How is it that ye sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

What was that business and why did no one else grasp the deep meaning of this sentence? Even today, the world is unaware of the living, resurrected Christ’s preoccupation and concern for His Father’s business.

Christ came to do His Father’s work, and true Christians must know what this means and how they can be involved in their Father’s business – their real livelihood. Here is the biblical meaning of what Christ meant:

“My meat (food or substance) is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34)

God’s work is of primary importance to Him. True Christians today are to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33). They are called not just for salvation, but to support the work of God, which Christ died for.

This is no small incidental or half-hearted matter to God, as He states in John 5:17: “My Father works hitherto, and I work.” If we are to follow Christ, we have to work also because God works through human instruments. That means supporting the true body of Christ in prayers, study, meditation and financial means.

Those who argue this concept fail to understand  God’s government because their hearts are not in His work. They resort to selfish arguments to back up inconsequential and spiritually lacking efforts. They look only to their own interests, exhibiting few fruits in their life to enable spiritual growth. God says:

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matt. 6:21).

If Christ lives in the true Christian (Phil. 2:5), then whatever Christ is excited about, the Christian will also want to be doing. This requires the power of the Holy Spirit, without which we can do nothing (John 5:30).